The carbon cycle science community recently began an effort to update and revise the very successful 1999 A U.S. Carbon Cycle Science Plan – written by a committee chaired by Jorge Sarmiento and Steve Wofsy. We now have the opportunity to decide how to outline and prioritize a research agenda on the carbon cycle for the next decade. Given the 1999 Plan and 10 years of experience as a point of departure, we have the opportunity now to ask what has been completed or is no longer a high priority? Which research items need to be continued? What questions should be added? Do we need a change in emphasis or a change in priorities? How has our vision of the priority needs been altered by 10 years of activity?
In fact, this activity starts with a virtually clean slate. We can work from the 1999 Plan or begin anew. Four co-chairs have been selected for this activity and an effort has been made to select a working group that represents the breadth of the U.S. carbon cycle research community. We invite you to review the posts here and on our webpage (Carbon Cycle Science Planning for the Next Decade) and to share your comments on these documents and on the broader topic of planning for the future of carbon cycle science in the United States in the comments sections of individual posts.
We look forward to hearing from the broader carbon cycle science community and capturing a vision that addresses a creative research program.
Sincerely,
Anna M. Michalak
Rob Jackson
Gregg Marland
Chris Sabine
